Military on streets near Zimbabwe capital as treason claims fly

Armoured vehicles were seen on the streets near the Zimbabwean capital Harare, as questions mounted Wednesday as to whether President Robert Mugabe, who has ruled since independence from Britain in 1980, still has a firm grip on power.

Tensions between the 93-year-old leader and the military that has been a key buttress to his reign have intensified, and his ZANU-PF party accused army chief General Constantino Chiwenga on Tuesday of “treasonable conduct” for challenging Mugabe over the sacking of the vice president.

The public dispute has presented a major test for Mugabe. Chiwenga had demanded that Mugabe stop purges of senior party figures, including vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was dismissed last week.

Profile of Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe.

ZANU-PF said Chiwenga’s stance was “clearly calculated to disturb national peace… and suggests treasonable conduct on his part as this was meant to incite insurrection”.

Before being ousted, Mnangagwa had clashed repeatedly with Mugabe’s wife Grace, 52, who is seen as vying with Mnangagwa to be the next president.

As the situation deteriorated on the ground, the US embassy in Harare warned its citizens in the country to “shelter in place” due to “ongoing political uncertainty”.

The armoured vehicles spotted outside Harare alarmed many residents as Chiwenga had warned of possible military intervention. The army’s spokesman was not available to comment.

“I saw a long convoy of military vehicles,” a female fruit seller told AFP, while other witnesses took to social media to confirm the reports.

Mugabe under pressure

Army chief Constantino Chiwenga (centre, right) on Monday warned of military intervention if the purges continued

Mugabe is the world’s oldest head of state, but his frail health has fuelled a bitter succession battle as potential replacements jockey for position.

“(Mugabe) has previously warned the military to stay away from ZANU-PF’s succession race.

“His authority over the military has never been tested in this way.”

Mnangagwa, seen here at a funeral ceremony in January, fled the country after being sacked by Mugabe. The 75-year-old — whose nickname is ‘The Crocodile’ — has strong connections with the military and veterans of Zimbabwe’s independence war

Mnangagwa, 75, was widely viewed as Mugabe’s most loyal lieutenant, having worked alongside him for decades.

He fled the country and is thought to be in South Africa after issuing a searing five-page condemnation of Grace’s ambition and Mugabe’s leadership.

Earlier this year the country was gripped by a bizarre spat between Grace and Mnangagwa that included an alleged ice-cream poisoning incident that laid bare the pair’s rivalry.

Mnangagwa took over as vice president from Joice Mujuru who was axed in 2014 after Grace Mugabe launched a campaign accusing her of plotting to topple the president.

Grace Mugabe — 41 years younger than her husband — has become increasingly active in public life in what many say is a process to help her eventually take the top job.